Massaging roller



Jan. 14, 1958 v. E. CALHOUN MAssAGING ROLLER Filed June 29,. 1954 0 M u M n w. e n W M 6 M M aww l 4.. n Mw Hw... ^w V6 T 3 m A @y E @M rn C w u.. IJE u f Y. Y ,5. B

States This invention relates to a treatment.

An object of the invention is to provide a massaging roller having rolls supported for rotation and for movement toward and away from each other and which is readily operated manually by the person being massaged.

Another object is to provide a massaging roller having at least two massaging rolls which are movable toward and away from each other by a gripping action of the hand in which the roller is held.

A further object is to provide a massaging roller comprising a frame having two massaging rollers rotatively and movably supported therein together with spring means yieldngly urging said two rollers toward each other and means actuated by the grip of the hand for moving said rollers apart against the force of the spring means.

Another object is to provide a massaging roller having at least two rolls movable toward and away from each other to alternately compress and stretch the esh and skin to which the rolls are applied.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a massaging roller which is simple and durable and inexpensive in construction and which is eiiicient in operation and relatively easy to operate.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a massaging roller constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, with parts in elevation taken substantially on broken line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end View looking in the direction of line 4-4 of Pig. l.

Fig. 5 is an exploded parts of this device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation of a modified form of the invention having spring means disposed within a housing.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in eleva-tion taken substantially on broken line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figs. l to 5 inclusive show a massaging device comprising two spaced apart parallel frame bars 10 and 11 rigidly connected with each other by a transversely extending cross bar 12 to form an H shaped frame member. The frame bars 1i) and 11 are respectively provided with longitudinally extending slots 13 and 14, there being two slots in each frame bar with each slot extending from a point near the outer end of the bar toward the center or medial point of said bar. Two massaging rollers 15 and 16, provided respectively with axially disposed bearing pins 17 and 1S which protrude from the ends of said rollers, are rotatively and movably mounted in the frame bar slots 13 and 14. Preferably tubular bearing sleeves massaging roller for self perspective of cooperating frame atent 2,819,715 Patented' Jan. 14, 1958 ICC 19 are provided on the protruding parts of the bearing pins 17 and 18 and operate in the slots 13 and 14 to reduce friction and provide smoother operation. To facilitate assembly one of the frame bars, such as frame bar 11, may be rigidly but detachably attached to the cross bar 12 by screws 20.

The two rolls or rollers 15 and 16 are movable in the frame bars 1@ and 11 between the position in which they are shown in Figs. l and 2 and the position in which they are shown in Fig. 3. This movement is accomplished by providing two pairs of links 21-22 and 23, 24 at opposite ends of the rollers. The lower ends of each pair of links 21, 22 and 23, 24 pivotally receive and lit over the bearing pins or axle members 17 and 18 at the adjacent ends of the rollers. The upper ends of each pair of links 21, 22 and 23, 24 lit over bearing pins 25 which are provided on the outer ends of arms 26. The arms 26 are rigid with a longitudinally movable stem or plunger 2'7 by which movement is imparted to the rollers 15 and 16. The arms 26 are guided for vertical movement by two spaced apart opstanding plates'28 and 29'. The plates 2S and 29 are rigid with the cross bar 12. The roller operating stern 27 is further guided in slots 30 in the plates 23 and 29. Obviously vertical movement yof the stern 27 relative to the frame bars 10 and 11 will move the rollers 15 and 16 toward and away from each other, due to the toggle action of the links 21, 22 and 23, 24. The two maximum positions of the rollers 15 and 16 are shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The slots 13 and 14 limit movement of the rollers in both directions. Preferably washers 31 are provided on the roller axles 1'7 and 18 on both sides of each link 21, 22, 23 and 24. Tension springs 35 and 36 are respectively connected between the links 21 and 22 and the links 23 and 24 and yieldingly urge the two rollers 15 and 16 toward each other. Two outwardly protruding linger grip pieces 32 and 33 are secured to the respective guide plates 28 and 29. A palm piece 34 is removably attached to the upper end portion of the stem 27. The palm piece 34 may be removed to allow the massaging device to be attached to a support, as hereinafter explained.

By placing the palm of the hand on the palm piece 34 and engaging the fingers with the grips 32 and 33 the` operator is able, by a squeezing movement of the hand, to exert a downward pressure or compressive force on the links 21, 22 and 23, 24 and thereby move the rollers 15 and 16 apart in opposition to the pull of the springs 35 and 36. The tension of springs 35 and 36 is at a minimum when the rolls 15 and 16 are closest together and it is not ditiicult to start the outward'movement ofthe rollers. As the tension of the springs 35 and 36 increases and the rollers 15 and 16 move outwardly the leverage of the links 21, 22 and 23, 24 becomes more favorable and the result is that the squeezing force required to move the rolls 15 and 16 apart is substantially uniform from the beginning to the end of their outward movement.V Also when the rolls 15 and 16 are pressed against the body parts to be massaged the pressure exerted against the palm piece will tend to spread the rolls 15 and 16 apart, independent of any squeezing action by the hand. Thus it will be seen that both the pressure and gripping force applied by the hand help in spreading the rolls 15 and 16 apart and that when this gripping force and pressure are relaxed the springs 35 and 36 will move these rolls together. In addition to the movement of the rolls 15 and 16 toward and away from each other the entire massaging device may be moved to roll the rollers 15 and 16 over the parts to be massaged. Obviously movement of the two rolls 15 and 16 apart or away from each other will tend to stretch and tension the body parts between these rolls and movement of said two rolls 15 and 16 toward each other will tend to compress the parts between said rolls. This action has been found to be particularly etlcient in a massaging device used tor the purpose of reducing fat on particular parts of the body.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the framebar lil?, cross bar 12", rolls 15 and. lo and links 21" and 22' are the same as. the corresponding parts 10, l2, 15, 16, 2,1l and 22 shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The up.- standing guide means shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is in the form of a tube 40 rigidly secured to the cross bar i2 and having therein a compression spring 4i. A tubular roller operating stem 42 dts telescopi-cally and reciprocable in the tubular guide member 4l) and cooperates in receiving the spring 41. A palm piece 43 in the form of a cross bar is rigid with the upper end of the roller operating stem 42. Two outwardly protruding linger grip members 44 and 45 are secured to opposite sides of the tubular guide member 40 adjacent the upper end thereot. Two arms 46, see Fig. 7, are rigidly secured to the lower end portion of the tubular roller operating stem 42 and extend in opposite directions therefrom. These arms 46 operate in upright slots i7 in the guide tube 40 and bearing pins 4S on the outer ends of these arms 46 are connected with the upper end portions of the links 21' and 22' and with the corresponding links at the other side of the device.

The massaging device shown in Figs. 6 and 7 operates in the same manner as the device shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive with the spring il operating under compression instead of tension but otherwise performing the same function as do the springs 55 and 36 of Figs. l to 5. This structure of Figs. 6 and 7 provides complete housing of the spring 4i) except for the small openings through the guide slots 47.

By securing this massaging device to a lixed support, such as a wall, with the massaging device in a horizontal position it is possible for a person to massage parts of the body thereon by pressing them against the rollers and moving them over the rollers. When the device is thus used the rollers will yield to pressure and will move toward and away from each other, depending on the amount of pressure exerted against them. The massaging device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 may be thus mounted in a horizontal position by removing the palm piece 34 and engaging the threaded outer end of the stem 27 within a suitable iixedly mounted socket. Obviously suitable means may be provided to receive and support the stem 42 of the massaging device of Figs. 6 and 7 with said massaging device in a horizontal position.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings disclose preferred embodiments of this invention but obviously changes may be made within the scope and spirit ot the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a massaging device, two spaced apart parallel massaging rollers positioned side by side; handhold means including a stem movable by the grip of a hand toward and away from the rollers; two pivot members carried by said stem; two pairs of divergent links connecting said pivot members and said rollers at opposite ends of the rollers, the two links of each pair having adjacent ends connected with the pivot members and having spread apart ends connected. with. the axialportions. ot the rollers; and spring means urging the rollers toward each other.

2. A massaging device comprising a frame having slots therein; two parallel massaging rollers having axles rotatively and movably supported in the slots in said frame; handhold means having a part fixed to said frame and a part movable relative to said frame; spring means urg ing said rollers toward each other; and a pair of divergent links interconnected between the movable part of said handhol'd means and the rollers at each end of the rollers, providing movement of the rollers away from each other in response to the exertion of gripping force on the xed and movable partsv of the handhold means.

3. A massaging device comprising two parallel spaced apart frame bars each having two longitudinal slots therein; means rigidly connecting said two frame bars', two parallel spaced apart rollers each having axles rotatively and movably supported in the slots in said frame bars; handheld means comprising a part fixed relative to the frame means which carries the rollers and a part guided for movement relative to the rollers, said movable part carrying pivot means; spring means urging said rollers toward each other; and divergent link `means connecting the axles of said rollers with the pivot means on the movable part of the handheld means, said links moving said rollers apart in response to movement of the movable part ofthe handhold means.

4. A massaging device comprising two spaced apart parallel frame bars each having two longitudinal slots of substantial length extending from near its respective ends toward the medial portion thereof; a medially positioned cross bar rigidly connecting said frame bars; guide means rigid with said cross bar and. extending outwardly theretrom perpendicularly to the frame bars; linger pieces rigid with said guide means and extending sidewise therefrom; a hand operated stem guided by said guide means for longitudinal movement toward and away from said rollers, said stem extending outwardly from said guide means and having a palm piece on its outer end; two pivot members carried by and protruding in opposite directions from said stem; two spaced apart parallel massaging rollers having axles rotatively and movably supported in the slots in said trame bars; a pair of links connected between each of the pivot members carried by said stem and said rollers, the two links of each pair diverging between the pivot members and the rollers providing application of outward force to the rollers in response to pressure on said stem', and spring means yieldingly urging the rollers toward each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,899 Ahlgren Ian. 4, 1927 2,633,844 Herndon Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 266,302 Germany Oct. 2l, 1913 303,155 Germany Jan. 24, 1918 

